WEBVTT 26 DAYSREMAINING IN THE LEGISLATIVESESSION.STILL A LOT OF TIME TO MAKETHINGS HAPPEN.DONNA: WELL, REPORTS OF SEXUALASSAULTS INCREASED AT THE NAVALACADEMY AND THE MILITARY ACADEMYAT WEST POINT WHILE DROPPING AT, THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY.THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSERELEASED THE LATEST DATA.IT SHOWS IN THE 2015-16 SCHOOLYEAR REPORTED CASES ARE DOWN AT, THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY.BUT IT STILL RECORDED THEHIGHEST TOTAL OF THE 3ACADEMIES.WHILE PENTAGON AND MILITARYOFFICIAL BELIEVE THE NUMBERS AREUP BECAUSE PEOPLE FEEL SAFERREPORTING IT AN ANONYMOUS SURVEY, SUGGESTS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ISON THE RISE.THAT SURVEY SHOWS ABOUT 12% OFFEMALE STUDENTS AND 2% OF MALESTUDENTS EXPERIENCED UNWANTEDSEXUAL CONTACT IN THE PREVIOUSYEAR.THAT'S UP FROM SIMILAR SURVEYSIN 2010 AND 2012.THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NAVALACADEMY RELEASED A STATEMENTTONIGHT, READING IN PART "WEHAVE ONE OF THE, IF NOT THEMOST, ROBUST SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, AND ASSAULT

Sexual assaults remain a concern at service academies

Naval Academy, West Point report an increase of such crimes

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Updated: 9:07 AM EDT Mar 16, 2017

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —

Reports of sexual assaults increased at the Naval Academy and the Military Academy at West Point, while dropping at the Air Force Academy.

According to figures releases by the Department of Defense, in the 2015-2016 school year, the Air Force Academy reported 32 sexual assaults, a decrease from the previous year, but still the highest total among the three service academies.

Among the other two service academies, Navy reported 28 sexual assaults while Army had 26 over the same span, according to the Department of Defense.

While Pentagon and military official believe the numbers are up because people feel safer reporting sexual assaults, an anonymous survey suggests sexual misconduct is on the rise.

Thr survey shows about 12 percent of female students and two percent of male students experienced unwanted sexual contact in the previous year. That is an increase from similar surveys in 2010 and 2012.

Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Ted Carter said there is plenty of room for improvement on the issue.

“We have one of the, if not the most, robust sexual assault harassment and assault prevention and education programs in the country," Carter said in a statement. “This latest increase demonstrates we still have work to do."